Nozzle construction for suction cleaners



Jan. 5, 1954 G. A. BRACE NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS FiledJune 10, 1948 INVEN TOR. 680 A. Brace 5' WM ATTORNEY.

fig 4 Patented Jan. 5, 1954 NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERSGeorge A. Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company,North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,117

8 Claims. (C1. 15-416) The present invention relates to the art ofsuction cleaners and more particularly to a surface contacting cleaningnozzle construction for use with suction cleaning apparatus.

It is a particular object of the present inven tion to provide acleaning nozzle which is readily convertible by a simple movement on thepart of the operator from a normal comparatively large area nozzle to asmall area nozzle through which the air flows with a high velocity forthe purpose of picking up threads and similar articles which cannot bepicked up by the nozzle in its usual and normal condition.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide asuction cleaning nozzle with an auxiliary nozzle mounted therewithinselectively movable from an operative position in which it forms thesole air inlet to the suction cleaning apparatus to an inoperativeposition in which the same is completely inoperative to perform acleaning function though still carried within the nozzle construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaningnozzle for a suction cleaner having mounted therewithin a second,selectively usable, high velocity nozzle which opens a bleed air inletport when moved to its operative position and seals such auxiliary airport to the nozzle when moved to its inoperative position.

' Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a front elevational view partly in section of my nozzleconstruction shown connected to a suction cleaner unit; Figure 2 is asectional elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1 takensubstantially on the lines 2--2 thereof and looking inthe direction ofthe arrows; N Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of the apparatusof Figure 1 taken substantially along the line 33 and showing theauxiliary nozzle in operative position; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the auxiliary nozzle inits inoperative position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and first to Figure 1 thereof,there is illustrated a suction cleaning apparatus I of the so-calledtank type which extends a suction hose 2 which is connected to a rigidor semi-rigid cleaning wand; 8 which carries the surface contactingnozzle 4- upon its free end.

' The nozzle 4 includes the usual swiveledoutlet connection 5 whichconnects directly'to the wand 3 to communicate the source of suction tothe hollow interior of the nozzle. The nozzle is provided with asubstantially rectangular elongated opening 6 in its bottom face whichis bounded by a surface contacting marginal wall I defining theperimeter of the suction cleaning air inlet to the nozzle 4.

The interior of the nozzle is provided with a pair of downwardlyprojecting partition elements 8 intermediate the ends thereof onopposite sides of the point at which the swiveled outlet connection 5connects to the nozzle 4 proper. The elements 5 terminate well above thefloor contacting surface 1. Only one of the interior partitions a isshown in Figure 1 but an identical element is positioned in the righthand side or the nozzle 4 in Figure 1.

Each partition 8 supports a swivel pin 9 which pivotally supports asecondary high velocity nozzle construction I0. As shown most clearly inFigures 3 and 4. the nozzle construction III comprises wedge shaped endplates II which lie against the facing walls of the partitions 8. Theplates I I support a rigid plate I 2 extending therebetween and providedwith a projecting narrow air inlet nozzle portion I3.

The nozzle I3 is in the form of a long narrow rectangular slot whichlies in a plane inclined to the surface to be cleaned when the nozzle isin operative position as shown in Figure 3. The front or leading edge ofthe nozzle I3 is thus substantially in contact with the surfaceundergoing cleaning and the rear edge of the nozzle is spaced above suchsurface to allow free flow of cleaning air into the nozzle.

The rear wall of the nozzle 4 between the partitions 8 is defined by acurved plate I5 secured at It to the nozzle 4. A foot portion I! of theplate I5 completes the perimeter of the nozzle opening 5 and lies in theplane of the lower ends of the front and side portions of the wall I.Air

inlet ports I 4 are provided in the curved plate I5 to admit air to theinterior of the nozzle 5 above the plane of the surface contacting footI I.

When the secondary nozzle I0 is in the position shown in Figure 3, therear edge of the'plate' I2 engages the upper inner surface of the plateI5 to form an air seal which prevents air admitted through openings I4from flowing into the region operative position of the nozzle It shownin Fig,-- 7' ure 3, the guide arms 28 extend toward the front of thenozzle structure A and lie in recesses. 22 shaped to accommodate theirlower ends with the nozzle It! in operative position and the: feet:

2| engaging the surface to. be; cleaned. The upper ends of the arms 26are bent at right angles to the planes of the plates H to. provide. cars23 which are slotted to receive the free ends of light leaf springs 2s.The leaf springsv 24 are. carried by brackets 25 secured to partitions8.

The leaf springs. 2A bias: the nozzle. structure H1 to, a neutralposition. in. which: the: guide arms 20 depend vertically below the.nozzle opening 6, as indicated in dotted lines at a. in Figure 2'.

Asshown in Figure 2 the surface engaging foot 2| is in its extremeforward position with the bottom thereof lying in the plane of the.bottom wall of the marginal structure 1-. The foot 2.! is moved. to thisposition when the operator first. places the nozzle. upon the surface tobe cleaned by giving. it a slight rearward movement. After once being.moved to this position the angle of the arm 29 is such that it ill notride baclrwardly to the dottedline position a. as long as. the nozzleismaintained in contact with the surface to be cleaned regardless of thedirection. in which the nozzle may be moved in the cleaning operation.Movement of the arm ill to the full line. position shown in Figure 2rotates the: secondary nozzle structure: I i) to the position. shown. inFigures. 2 and 3 in which position the cleaner is conditioned foroperation with the high velocity nozzle. i3.

If the operator desires to use. the full nozzle for cleaning operationthe cleaner is given a slight. forward movement. as it. is firstcontacted with the surface to be cleaned. This rotates the arms 20 fromvertical. position. to the rear. dotted line position shown in Figure: 2in. which position. the arm. 26 will remain as long as thenozzle iscontacting the surface tobecleaned regardless: of the direction in whichit is moved. When. moved to the rear dottedposition shown in Figure 2,the secondary nozzle struoture In is rotated to the position shown inFigure 4:. In this position the nozzle opening it is inoperative: andthe front portion of. the plate. i2. engages the.- curved face of theplate it including the opera ings. IA. to seal. the, openings ht andpreventfur ther flow of air therethrough. as shown in Figtire-4.

The present invention is. characterized by the provision. of a. suctioncleaner floor contacting nozzle. of conventional structure modified toincorporate within itself a selectively operableauxiliary nozzlestructure having a. comparatively small. air inletto provide forextremely high velocity air. flow therethrough. The auxiliary nozzle isrendered. operable. or inoperable. at the will of. the operator simplyby the manner in whichthe cleaning tool is first placed upon the surfaceto. be cleaned. That a. slight rearward move-- ment of; thenozzlestructureas it is. placedsupon. the. surface to. be. cleanedshifts. the auxiliary nozzle into its operative position andsimultaneously opens the bleed ports M which will allow a large quantityof air to enter the nozzle structure beneath the plate 12 to aid thecleaning action of the high velocity nozzle l3. A slight forwardmovement of the nozzle as it is placed upon the: surface to be cleanedshifts the guide arms 29 to the position indicated in dotted lines at bin Figure 2 which rotates the secondary nozzle to its inoperativecondition in which it seals the bleed ports i4 so that the cleaning tooloperates as a conventional cleaning nozzle just as if the nozzle [9 andbleed ports Mi were: not provided.

For most. ordinary cleaning purposes the nozble area defined by themarginal structure I is adequate for cleaning purposes, however astraight air cleaner does not suck the air through this nozzle with avelocity sufficient to pick up certain types of litter such as threadswhich otter smal-L area tohe engaged by the air. stream and; which tendto, cling to the nap. of carpet and similar floor coverings. The narrownozzle !3 will remove such. litter. When the narrow nozzle; It is in usea large. volume of. air sweeps through the openings l4 laterally acrossthe. surface. tube. cleaned and flows through the nozzle t3 with a highvelocity which is sufficient to detach and remove threads. and similarlitter.

While I have illustrated; and described the in? venti-cn inconsiderable. detail, it. is to be understood that various-v changes maybe: made. in the arrangement, proportion and construction of partswithout. departing from; the spirit of. the invention or the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:-

1'. A, cleaning tool. for. suction. cleaning apparatus comprising ahollow body portion form ing. a suctionair. passage. terminating in. anair inlet opening, forminga. surface: cleaning nozzle, means forconnecting the interior of said body to a source of suction, an elementshaped to ex tend. across said air passage and engage portions: of saidbody to form a seal therearound between. said connecting means and. saidnozzle, an air inlet in said element forming a second cleaning nozzle ofsmaller cross-sectional area than said first nozzle and arranged insurface cleaning position when said element is positioned across saidair passage said small. area. nozzle having a low lip to contact. asurface under-- going cleaning and. a high lip to extend slightly abovea surface undergoing cleaning, means to admit air into said hollow bodybetween said element in its cleaning; position and the surface beingcleaned, means movably mounting said element. on. said body for movementfrom. a first positionin. which said element. does not obstruct airflowto said. connecting means to. a. second. position in which said secondnozzle is in cleaning positiom. and means selectively movable byongagementv with asurface, to be cleanedfor moving said element toaselected" one. of said two positions.

2. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning, apparatus comprising: a. hollowbody portion forming a suction air passage terminating in an air inletopening forming a surface cleaning nozzle, means for connecting theinterior of said body to a source of suction, anelement shaped to extendacross said air passage and engage portions of said body to form a sealtherearound between said connesting means and said nozzle, an air inletin said element formingasecond cleaning nozzle of smallercross-sectional area than said first nozzle and arranged in surfacecleaning position when said element is positioned across said airpassage, an atmospheric air passage in said body arranged to supply airfrom a region above said first mentioned nozzle to the region below saidelement when said smaller nozzle is in surface cleaning position, meansmovably mounting said element on said body for movement from a firstposition in which said element does not obstruct air flow to saidconnecting means to a second position in which said second nozzle is incleaning position, said element being arranged to block fiow of airthrough said atmospheric air passage when in said first position, andmeans selectively movable byengagement with a surface to be cleaned formoving said element to a selected one of said two positions.

3. A surface cleaning suction tool comprising a body portion having anair passageway therethrough terminating in a first suction,v air inletnozzle, a member mounted within said air passageway having a slottherein defining'a second suction air inlet nozzle which is smaller thansaid first nozzle, said member being shaped to extend across saidpassage to block air flow therethrough except through said secondnozzle, means movably mounting said member for movement between a firstposition in which it extends across said passage with said second nozzlein surface cleaning position to a second position in which it does notobstruct air flow through said passage and said second nozzle is removedfrom surface cleaning position, and means for moving said second nozzlemember selectively to either of said positions comprising a surfacecontacting member mounted on said second nozzle member within said firstnozzle for movement by engagement with a surface to be cleanedtransversely to the length of said nozzle in the direction of normalcleaning movements thereof to either of two positions in which it shiftssaid second nozzle to one of its .two positions, and means biasing saidsecond nozzle member to a neutral position in which said surfacecontacting member extends through and depends below said first nozzlewhereby the position of said second nozzle is determined by the intialdirection of movement imparted to the tool when said element contacts asurface to be cleaned.

4. A surface cleaning tool comprising. a body portion formed with an airpassage therein terminating in a suction air inlet nozzle, an elementshaped to extend across and engage thewalls of said air passage, asecond suction air inlet nozzle formed in said element and arranged insurface cleaning position when said element is positioned across saidair passage, said second air inlet nozzle having a low lip to engage asurface undergoing cleaning and a high lip to cleara surface undergoingcleaning, an air inlet in said body above said first nozzle and openinginto said air passage below said element when it is positioned acrosssaid passage, means movably mounting said element on said body portionfor movement from a position across said air passage to another positionin which it does not extend across said passage and said second nozzleis removed from surface cleaning position and said element having aportion thereof shaped to close said air inlet when it is in saidanother position.

5. A surface cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising ahollow body-having a portion forming a first surface cleaning air inletnozzle, means for connecting the interior of said hollow body to asource of suction, "an air inlet port in said hollow body spaced abovesaid first nozzle, a nozzle structure movably mounted on said hollowbody having a second air inlet c1ean+ ing nozzle of smaller area thansaid first nozzle, said nozzle structure shaped to engage portions ofsaid hollow body above said first nozzle and said air inlet port to forman air seal around said nozzle structure with said second nozzle insurface cleaning position, said nozzle structure including means forclosing said air inlet port when said nozzle structure is moved to anoncleaning position, and means for selectively positioning said nozzlestructure in a first position in which said air seal is formed or insaid noncleaning position.

6. A surface cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising abody member having front and rear and end walls forming an air ductterminating in front and rear and end surface engaging lips defining afirst suction air inlet nozzle, a pair of wall members in said air ductextending transversely of said front and rear walls adjacent to andspaced from said end walls and terminating above said nozzle lipswhereby'air can fiow from the region adjacent said end walls only undersaid wall members, a second suction air inlet nozzle formed in a barriermember shaped to engage said wall members and said front and rear wallsbetween said wall members to form an air seal therearound with saidsecond nozzle in surface engaging position, means pivotally mountingsaid barrier member on said wall members for movement between a firstposition in which said second nozzle is in surface engaging position anda second position in which said second nozzle is not in surface engagingposition and said air seal is not established, a surface engagingactuating member secured to said barrier member for arcuate movementtherewith between a pair of stop positions in each of which saidactuating member engages a surface being cleaned between said front andrear nozzle lips and rocks said barrier member to one of said positionsthereof, and means biasing said barrier member to a third position inwhich said actuating member lies between and depends below said frontand rear nozzle lips,

7. A cleaning tool for a suction cleaning apparatus comprising a bodymember having walls forming an air duct and surface engaging lipsforming a first cleaning air inlet nozzle communicating with said airduct, means for connecting said air duct to a source of suction, anozzle plate shaped to engage said walls to form an air seal therearoundbetween said first 'nozzle and said connecting means, means on saidnozzle plate forming a second air inlet cleaning nozzle having a lesserarea than said first nozzle, means movably mounting said nozzle platein' ;;said body member for movement to a first position in which saidsecond nozzle is removed from surface engaging position and said firstnozzle ha's free communication with said air duct to a second positionin which said nozzle plate engagesfsaid walls in said air sealedrelation and said second nozzle is in surface engaging position betweenand spaced from said first nozzle lips, means for selectively placingsaid nozzle plate in said first or said second position, an air port insaid body member positioned to admit air to said airduct above saidsurface engaging lips and below said nozzle plate in said secondposition, and means on said nozzle plate for closing said air portwhen-said nozzle plate is in said first position.

8. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparat has comprising a hollowbody portion forming a-suction air passage terminating in an air inletopening forming a surface cleaning nozzle, means for connecting theinterior of said body to a source of suction, a pair of partitions insaid hellow body portion spaced on opposite sides of said connectingmeans, each of said partitions extending downwardly from the top wall ofsaid hollow body and terminating short of the lower end of said surfacecleaning nozzle whereby air flow from the end portions of said hollowbody to said connecting means must pass under said partitions, a nozzleplate in said hollow body having a suction air cleaning nozzle thereinof smaller cross-sectional area than said first mentioned nozzle, saidnozzle plate being shaped to engage said partitions and the portions ofsaid hollow body between said partitions to form an air seal around saidnozzle-plate, means movably mountingsaid nozzle plate on; saidpartitions for movement from a first position in which said plateengages said partitions and said portions of said hollow body and saidsmall nozzle is in surface cleaning position to a second position inwhioh said nozzle plate does not obstruct air flow from a,

said first mentioned nozzle to said connecting means and said smallnozzle is moved to an inoperative position, an actuating member mountedon one of said partitions in one of said end portions of said firstnozzle operatively connected to said nozzle plate for actuating the sameto-said first and second positions selectively, and means biasing saidactuating member to a neutral position depending below said first nozzlewhereby said nozzle plate is actuated to said first or said secondposition depending upon the initial direction of movement of said bodyportion as said actuating member contacts a surface to be cleaned.

GEO. A. BRACE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,902,561 Kuhnel Mai. 21, 1933 2,203,650 Forsberg June 4, 19407 2,235,674 Forsberg Mar. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS, Number Country Date45,819 Netherlands May 15, 1939 280,428 Great Britain Nov. 1'7, 1927597,246 Germany May 19, 1934

